Endoscope and obturator therefor



. July 25, 1950 J. E. HELD ENDoscoPE AND oBTURAToR THEREFOR Filed Jan. 51, 1946 m, l@ @w ww ww l IVENTOR. @SE/2HE HELD j` mmHg/Ef ww .QTIN

Patented July 25, 1,950

ENDGSCOBE OBTURATOR THEREFOR Joseph yE. Held ,New York, N. Y., assigner to American Cystoscope Makers, Inc., New York, MN. Y., aV corporation of New York Application January 31, 1946, Serial No. 644,557

4 Claims. 1 4

The instant invention pertains generally to surgical instruments, and more particularly to en-v doscopic instruments adapted to be inserted into body cavities for the purpose of examining, treating and/or carrying out surgical operations within such cavities. In one of its more specic aspects, the invention relates to a multiple-fenestra endoscopic instrument and an obturator for such an instrument to prevent the fenestras from damaging -body tissue in the course of inserting the instrument in a cavity.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an instrument of the character indicated that is capable of performing its intended functions in an effective and trouble-free manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an endoscopic instrument, having a plurality ofl fenestras, that may be readily inserted -Iinto'a body passage without damage to body tissue with which it may come in contact during such insertion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved obturator that may be readily inserted into and subsequently withdrawn from a multiple-fenestra endoscope.

A further object of the invention is to provide an obturator for multiple-fenestra endoscopes, which obturator is relatively simple and compact in design and dependable in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts set forth in the fol lowing detailed description and illustrated in the annexed drawing of a, preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention, together with the advantages at-v tainable thereby, will be readily understood by f persons skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View 4of'an endoscopic instrument embodying the devices of this invention, and illustrating the obturator in operative association with the-fenestras of the instrument; 4

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of an cbturator constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a forward portion of the instrument shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3, and illustrates the obturator out of operative association withl the fenestras of the endoscopic instrument;

Figure 5 is across-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3;

( Cl. 12S-4) I9 ina manner well-knownl to Figure 6 is a cross-sectional viewtaken'along line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view of the left end ypori'iionlof the obturator shown in Figure 2, rotated verti-l cally and horizontally;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along4 line 8*!! of Figure 2; and y Figure 9 is a top plan View of the forward portion of Figure 2. f Referring now to the drawing, wherein like referencenumerals areeinployed to denote "c'orresponding parts throughout the several views',-

and more particularly to Figure 1, I have depicted an endoscopic-tube ICI having a plurality of fenestras II and I2 formed therein and spaced therearound. rThese fenestras ranged opposite each other. Secured to the forward end of tube I0 is an extension generally indicated by numeral I3 and including a'iirst unit I4 having a ball head or end I 5 that engages the rearward end of a second unit or beak I6 to form a swivel or vball and socket connection therewith.'

The free end of beak I5 is rounded, as at I 1, to facilitate insertion `of the instrumentin a-body passage. Intermediate .the fenestratedportions of tube ID and extension I3 is a lamp mounting I8 that carries a lamp I 9 adapted to transmit light rays through both of Athe fenestras to the exterior of tube IIJ simultaneously. Adjacent lamp I9 is a perforate partition 2!) disposed acrossv the interior of tube I0. Partition 2! protects lamp I9 from being damaged by instruments inserted into the tube through its rearward end and additionally,

movements iny one the obturator of this invention.

shown) and includes ingjintegral arcuate and-29, respectively, thatride .in corresponding spool-like-elements 30 and. 3i for renergizing lamp the'art. -32 having a-.pair

apair of legs 26 and Z'I'hav- Aiiixed to tubelll isa collar of conduits, one of which is indicated-at, 33 in4 Figure 1, for transmitting and withdrawing irrigating liquid intoand from abody passage-.by way of the interiorV of tube Il). A sleeve 34 is securedto and rotatable about -the axis of tube I0 and is provided with adetent means `35 'for controlling the 4relative :angular positiongthereof with respect tothe tube.

rearward end ofsleeve 34, is a locking unit 36 that has a laterally extending are preferably ar-v 'a's will be explained'fu'rther along herein,v serves .asa stop to limitv relative direction v between tube 10 andspring contact elements v28:

\ suitably coupled Vto fthe. andA rotatable therewith having rounded or camming end surfaces 45' andA4 46', respectively, as is bestY shownin-u Figures 4 and 8. Member 45 has a teat or stop lug fil formed integral therewith andw projecting into slot 42. It will be observed that obturator, head; 4| is generally U-shaped in longitudinal cross section, and further that the outer face of-"each member 45 and 46, that merges with webt 44, tapers forwardly. Obturator head 4I is preferably made of a suitable resilient metal to permit'ready outward` deii'ection of' members 45 and` 46 with respect to each other-.upon the application of a force tending to produce such` deflection.

The forward end of a control rod 501is disposed within obturator head 4I- and isaxially movable intermediate and along members Sand 46; Rod .'lnhasaV blind. bore 5I for the reception ofV a portion of a compression spring 52" disposed wholly., within obturator head 4l: and bearing ag-ainstltheinner. face. of web V44` and the blind endi of bore. 5l toinormally and yieldingly move head'4'i: toward the left with respect to rod 59,

as. viewed in Figure 2. lntegral'lwith rod 50 and extending forwardly thereof is a stop arm- 53v that rides` in slot 43.and= that abuts the inner face off web. 44I to limitv movement of obturator head' 41, toward the right with respect:Y to rod 50,' as=viewed inFigure 8.- A stop pin 54,y carried by,rod1'.illjl rides in slot" 42 andrbears against stop lug4-1l to limit movement of obturator head 4l! toward. the left with respect to rod' 50, as viewedA inFigure 2:, thisbeing the normal relativeposition offobturator head 4I and vrod50'.

50=carries a double frustro-conical element155A having a forwardly tapering face 56l for imparting outward'deection tomembers 45" and 46 underI certain conditions, as A.will be discussed' further along. At the rearward end" ofl rod- 50 is .a handle 5T having. a forwardly-tapered portionit` that carries a pair ofV locking pins 58, one of whichlis shown .in Figure 2.

Ther normal relative position or-` the devicesconstituting obturator assembly 40vis.- as shown inFig'ure. 2,"that isto say, obturator head 4in is: normally atf-its extreme protracted-'position with-V respect to control rod- 5l)I due to the action of."

springSlhand asallowed icy-stopl lug 4l'Y and stop pin 54;` Under these conditions,-element 55is out.- of: engagement with the free end s of members and 46. The obturator assembly is insertable in endoscopic tubeV l0 and movable forwardly therealong, the parts o f vthe obturator as;

sembly remainingin the relative position shown in .Figure Z/un'til web-44 abuts the rearwardface ot partition 2li.-i Upon continued movement ofY control rod'lltoward the left, further forwardA movement ofobturator head 4i is prevented-by partition- 20, but theA forward end ofrod is protracted into the obturator head against,V the action of Acompressionspring 52,1thereby bringing tapered face 56 of element 55 into engagement with camming surfaces 45 and` 46 of members 45.and 46, respectively, and effecting` 4 outward deilection of members 45 and 46 to bring these members into registration with corresponding fenestras 1I and l2 (Figures l and 3). At such time, tapered surface 58 of handle 51 forms a snug fluid-tight connection with sleeve 34 and the parts are maintained in the assembled position shown in Figure l through the engagement of locking pins 59 by lockingv unit 36, as is taught in the above-mentioned Patent No; 1,880,551.

The instrument shown in Figure l may then be, inserted in a body passage in the usual manner. After the fenestras have been disposed in thej desired: region ofja body cavity, locking unit 36 i s manipulated to release locking pins 59. Initial' withdrawal. ofv control rod 50 effects partial retraction ofv the forward portion of this rod with respect to obturator head 4I and disengagement between.` element 55 and the free ends of members., 45 and 46, thereby permitting these members to return to their normal relative position and out of registration with their corresponding fenestras; Continued withdrawal of control rod fresultsinfull-retraction ofj the control rod-f with respect' toobturator headv l4i untilI the partsv assume the relative position shown in, Figuree; whereuponithe entire obturator assembly may be completely withdrawn from endoscopic tube Ill.

From-the foregoing, itis believedlthat the construction, operation, and advantages of my present invention' will be-readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various-changes in the apparatus set forth abovemay bemade without departing from the scope oftheinvention, it being intended that al1-matter contained in the description or shown in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limit*- ingsense.

I claim:

1. In anV instrumento-f1 the.- character described;V an endoscopic tube having a plurality of fenestrasl formedv thereiny and spacedfl therearound, an obturatorhead insertable into said tubetothe regioni4 of`saidl fenestras'and' comprising a web and a plurality of spaced members projectinglaterally ofsaidfweb; a rodextendingl into-said head and movablealongfsaid members, and'meansi carried-by said .rodi f or urging .said members out'- wardly withV respect to' eachother upon` predetermined` movement of said rod with respect to said-headinonev directionto elect registration between eachof saidA members and a correspondingv fenestra.

2,-l In-i an instrument of. the character described;'

- an endoscopic tube having -aplurality ofienestras formedthereinandspaced'therearound a unitaryJ obturator'head inser-table into said tube-to-the region of said fenestrasfandl-comprising a web.. and a plurality of spaced substantiallyparallel members y.projecting laterally of said web;- a; rod extending 'into said headl and lmovabl'e -alongsaid:4 members, means .carried luy-saidrod'for substantially-'simultaneously engaging the free endof each member and imparting outward delection to saidfmembers withwespectfto eachy other upon predetermined movementfoffsaid'lrodfwith respectc to said head in one direction to effect registration` between leachoffsaidfmembers` and a corresponding fenestra, andy meanslnormally'urging said4 rod in the opposite direction with respect 'to said' head l to eii'ect disengagement between saidfirstl mentioned'fmeans andesaid members.

3. yIn an obturator` forI an endoscopicV instrumentf-that-includes `an endoscopic tube havinga.

plurality of fenestras formed therearound, a head that is generally U-snaped in cross section and adapted to be inserted into said endoscopic tube to the region of said fenestras, said head including a web and a pair of substantially pai'aln lel spaced members, a rod movable along said head intermediate said members, means for normally and yieldingly maintaining said head in a predetermined position with respect to said rod, and means carried by said rod for substantially simultaneously imparting outward deflection to each of said members with respect to the other member upon predetermined movement of said rod with respect to said liead against the action of said last mentioned means.

4, In an obturator for an endoscopie instrument that includes an endoscopie tube having a plurality of fenestras formed therearound, a head that is generally U-shaped in cross section and adapted to be inserted into said endoscopie tube to the region of said fenestras, said liead including a web and a pair of substantially parallel spaced members, a, rod movable along said head intermediate said members, means for normally and yieldingly maintaining said head in a predetermined position with respect to said rod, and wedge means carried by said rod for substantially simultaneously imparting outward deiection to each 0f said members With respect to the other member upon predetermined movement of said rod with respect to said head against tlie action of said last mentioned means.

JOSEPH E. l-IELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,880,551 Wappler Oct. 4, 1932 2,212,484 Wolf Aug. 2), 1940 

